Bundesliga Stars Who Could Define the Season
Bundesliga action gets underway on Friday as champions Bayer Leverkusen take on Borussia Mönchengladbach. It marks the first season since 2012/13 that teams are chasing a new defending champion after Leverkusen ended Bayern Munich’s 11-year streak of domestic titles. Let’s look at the key players at the German top-flight’s biggest clubs as they look to lead their teams to glory.
Florian Wirtz, AM, Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Last season
• 11 goals 11 assists in 32 Bundesliga appearances
• won Bundesliga player of the season
What’s Next?
• establish himself as full-time starter for German national team
• position himself for big money move (linked to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich)
What They’re Saying
• I want to build up on my performances and, above all, to get a bit better. We have to try to keep pushing, get even better, and then compete with the other teams again.” – Wirtz on the upcoming campaign
Harry Kane, CF, FC Bayern Munich
Last season
• 36 goals in 32 Bundesliga appearances in debut season at Bayern
• Bayern was held trophyless for first time since 2011/12
What’s Next?
• Help Bayern reclaim the Bundesliga crown
• finally add a major trophy to his resume
What they’re saying
• “He’s brought in a lot of fresh energy. The way he wants to play is high pressure, a lot of possession, and a lot of attacks to try to score many goals. My first impressions are really good.” – Kane on new manager Vincent Kompany
Denis Undav, F, VfB Stuttgart
Last season
• 18 goals in 30 Bundesliga appearances on loan from EPL’s Brighton & Hove Albion
• completed permanent $28 million move to Stuttgart in offseason
What’s Next?
• build striking partnership with new signing Ermedin Demirović from Augsburg
• Keep Stuttgart competitive in Bundesliga while competing in UEFA Champions League
What they’re saying
• “I don’t know, maybe a few of the players got intimidated by the atmosphere. That’s the only explanation I can think of, but that can happen at this level.” – undav on recent Super Cup loss to leverkusen
Nico Schlotterbeck, CB, Borussia Dortmund
Last season
• Helped Dortmund to first Champions League final since 2012/13
• 4th-best Bundesliga defense ensured Dortmund qualified for this year’s Champions League
What’s Next?
• Lead Dortmund back into title contention (finished 27 points off the top last year)
• a good season could lead to a transfer to a bigger club (linked with Real Madrid and Arsenal)
What they’re saying
• “At some point, I would probably be tempted to go abroad. I really want to play here for the third season, and probably the fourth and fifth, too, so I am really happy to be at Dortmund and also see it as a certain honor.” – Schlotterbeck on rumors of a move to Madrid
Benjamin Šeško, CF, RB Leipzig
Last season
• 14 goals tw0 assists in debut season at RB leipzig
• ended season with seven goals in seven games
• led spirited 2024 UEFA euro effort (lost on penalties to Portugal in round of 16)
What’s Next?
• make leap from young prospect to full-fledged superstar
• avoid scoring regression (scored 0.75 Non penalty goals per 90 mins on 0.49 non penalty xg)
what they’re saying
• “Team, club, city, fans – the overall package remains simply outstanding for me. The early contract extension is, therefore, the logical step for me.” – Šeško on turning down a move to the EPL
